The Gaslight Anthem at the Firebird, 7/13/12: Highlights

In a huge win for St. Louis, Jersey rockers The Gaslight Anthem played an intimate, sold-out show at The Firebird. Supported by friend and collaborator Dave Hause, the band brought humor and energy to the hungry audience. Some highlights:

1. The Gaslight Anthem had the crowd in its hand from the first song, "Great Expectations." Without prompts from front man Brian Fallon, the audience attentively sang, clapped and swayed for nearly every tune -- exuberantly so for "Old White Lincoln," "The Backseat" and "Drive."

2. Fallon didn't directly address the audience until Gaslight Anthem's third song, "45," the lead single from upcoming album Handwritten. Having witnessed Fallon's charismatic storytelling several times previously, I was anxious about his lack of babble. I shouldn't have worried, because Fallon soon warmed up and became, in his own words, a "chatty Cathy." He claimed it was because of his Irish and Jewish background. "We drink and we talk."

3. Some Fallon nuggets:
-- "Boy, St. Louis. Big Cardinals following here, huh?"
-- "I saw your thing. You know, that thing you're famous for. [The Gateway Arch] Cool, man. I couldn't build it." And later, "Can you skateboard on it?"
-- "Not for this ticket price, buddy!" [responding to an audience member asking if Bruce Springsteen would join them, as The Boss occasionally does]
-- "A good one. That's what song's next." [responding to someone asking what's coming up]
-- "I got signed to a major label. Gotta get some of that Jay-Z money!" [Gaslight Anthem recently left SideOneDummy for Mercury]
-- "Wanna see some funk? [plays 70s chords] It's like porno music now."
-- "There's no curfew, I promise! I won't play any less songs!" [after audience members wonder if they'll be shortchanged on music because of Fallon's chatter]

4. Throughout the evening, Fallon affectingly gestured and grinned wickedly while performing, both to his bandmates and to the audience. Watching him sing from his knees or shake his hands like an evangelist, you can't help but be drawn in by Fallon's heartfelt vomiting of emotion.

5. He seemed to particularly bond on stage with guitarist Alex Rosamilia, who sported a black hoodie with a giant skull on the back. They had more eye sex and wordless communication than Pujols and Yadi ever did.

6. The only song that didn't go over well with the audience was "Angry Johnny and the Radio" from 2007's Sink or Swim. While the floor still was crowded, many concertgoers decided to pee, grab a beer or visit the merch table during the tune.

7. The band left the stage at 10:24 p.m. and returned for their encore at 10:27 p.m. -- except it was more like a second set instead of an encore, as the show didn't end until about 11 p.m.

8. Gaslight Anthem saved the popular "The '59 Sound" for its second-to-last song, but because it fits in so well with most of the setlist, it didn't feel like they were doing the let's-keep-the-big-hit-for-the-end-of-the-show thing.

9. Fallon windmill-strummed power chords all night, culminating his Pete Townshend impression with a passionate "Baba O'Riley" during the encore. Fallon dove into the crowd for the final verse and emerged back on stage for a triumphant "They're all wasted!" Covered in sweat, he jumped around while his bandmates finished out the song, took an appreciative look at the still-wired audience, and exclaimed, "This is the best night ever! Thank you!"

Also of note...the band walked onstage to Fugazi's Waiting Room, they tagged Bon Iver's Blood Bank during Angry Johnny and the Radio, and covered Pearl Jam's State of Love and Trust during the encore...amazing show...fiercest pit I've experienced in since Trail of Dead at the Galaxy in 2002...the entire evening felt like a time warp to a different era